Organisation profile

Sustainability has many facets. Inter- and transdisciplinary research and teaching characterize the School of Sustainability. Scientists in our research projects work together in the laboratory, on the heath, in the grassland, in the classroom, with the city administration, with farmers, with non-governmental organizations, with companies, with students in the lecture hall and of course at their desks.

Furthermore, we work with regional and national political actors, e.g. ministries, as well as international organizations, e.g. UNEP, UNESCO, EU. We are part of national and international bodies, e.g. sustainability advisory boards of companies, member of the German Sustainability Award, World Biodiversity Council (IPBES), in order to contribute to social change with scientific findings.

Main research areas

Vision
Sustainability science investigates on a theoretical, conceptual and empirical level how to promote sustainable development and how to find and implement effective solutions for current social and ecological challenges. The aim is to create a more sustainable future.

Sustainability researchers are called upon to take responsibility for their research, which is anchored in existing scientific knowledge and methods and serves to make the world a better place for everyone.

Mission
We promote change towards a sustainable future by developing theories, concepts and practices of inclusive education for sustainability, research, governance and management.

We acknowledge the diversity and dynamics of values, norms and behaviour and contribute with transdisciplinary methods to ensuring that tensions and differences between different disciplines, methods, topics and standards are fruitfully taken up and used with productive compromises and further developments towards sustainable development.

Principles
The School of Sustainability is guided by the normative concepts of ecological system integrity and social and economic justice.

Ecological system integrity refers to the safeguarding of life-support systems, as well as the maintenance of the well-being of life on Earth.

With social and economic justice we strive for a world in which all people can fulfil their potential without endangering system integrity and the well-being of others.

Information about the School
The School of Sustainability includes...
... ca. 25 professors
... ca. 100 research assistants
... ca. 1000 students in Bachelor and Master courses

In various inter- and transdisciplinary projects we are constantly researching and working together on changes and solutions for current challenges.

  1. Published

    Educators' Competence Frameworks in Education for Sustainable Development

    Rieckmann, M. & Barth, M., 2022, Competences in Education for Sustainable Development: Critical Perspectives. Vare, P., Lausselet, N. & Rieckmann, M. (eds.). Cham: Springer International Publishing AG, p. 19-26 8 p. (Sustainable Development Goals Series).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapter

  2. Published

    Der europäische Weg

    Cieslewicz, K., Lang, D. & Barth, M., 28.02.2022, In: Ökologisches Wirtschaften. 37, 1, p. 8–9 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  3. Published

    Controller und Nachhaltigkeit im Kontext neuer Berichterstattungspflichten

    Lühn, M., Nuzum, A.-K., Petersen, H. & Schaltegger, S., 2022, In: REthinking: Finance. 1, p. 25-33 9 p., REF1398613.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Better performance of organic than conventional tomato varieties in single and mixed cropping

    Ficiciyan, A. M., Loos, J. & Tscharntke, T., 21.04.2022, In: Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems. 46, 4, p. 491-509 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Does Sharing with Neighbours Work? Accounts of Success and Failure from Two German Housing Experimentations

    Huber, A., 20.10.2022, In: Housing, Theory and Society. 39, 5, p. 524-554 31 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Strategic alliances for corporate sustainability innovation: The ‘how’ and ‘when’ of learning processes

    Hübel, C., Weissbrod, I. & Schaltegger, S., 01.12.2022, In: Long Range Planning. 55, 6, 20 p., 102200.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Nachhaltigkeit im Wirtschaftsrecht - von der Verantwortung der Wirtschaftsjuristen

    Schomerus, T., 2021, in principio erat codex - Am Anfang waren das Buch und das Gesetz: Eine zeitgenösische wirtschaftsjuristische Erkundung. Festschrift anlässlich des 60- + 70jährigen Geburtstages von Prof. em. Dr. iur. Klaus W. Slapnicar. Liepod, R. & Slapnicar, K. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Wissenschaftsverlag für Innovationen + Rechtstatsachen, p. 273-278 6 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesTransfer

  8. Published

    From negative to positive sustainability performance measurement and assessment? A qualitative inquiry drawing on framing effects theory

    Kühnen, M., Silva, S. & Hahn, R., 01.07.2022, In: Business Strategy and the Environment. 31, 5, p. 1985-2001 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Transformation archetypes in global food systems

    Dornelles, A. Z., Boonstra, W. J., Delabre, I., Denney, J. M., Nunes, R. J., Jentsch, A., Nicholas, K. A., Schröter, M., Seppelt, R., Settele, J., Shackelford, N., Standish, R. J. & Oliver, T. H., 01.09.2022, In: Sustainability Science. 17, 5, p. 1827-1840 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Spring barley performance benefits from simultaneous shallow straw incorporation and top dressing as revealed by rhizotrons with resealable sampling ports

    Reichel, R., Kamau, C. W., Kumar, A., Li, Z., Radl, V., Temperton, V. M., Schloter, M. & Brüggemann, N., 01.05.2022, In: Biology and Fertility of Soils. 58, 4, p. 375-388 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review